Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, and Dutch biopharmaceutical company Crucell N.V., both headquartered in the Netherlands, announce an expansion of the activities in their existing joint venture, the PERCIVIA PER.C6 Development Center (Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States), to transform the company from a development centre into a full biopharmaceutical company for the development of PER.C6-based biobetter1 proteins and monoclonal antibodies as well as global licensing of the PER.C6 human cell line for production of third party monoclonal antibodies and other proteins.

The joint venture, in which DSM and Crucell will each hold an equal equity share, will be known as PERCIVIA LLC. The joint venture will broaden its scope and will focus on proprietary development of PER.C6-based biobetter proteins and monoclonal antibodies, initially to early clinical stages.

The Board of PERCIVIA LLC will have equal representation from both investors. Subject to customary approvals and clearances James (Jim) Mullen, a highly experienced and successful biotech executive, will be appointed as Chairman of the Board of the joint venture. Most recently Jim was CEO of Biogen Idec

Building on DSM’s and Crucell’s PER.C6 business activities, the joint venture will have its own business development team for commercializing both the PER.C6 platform for production of third party monoclonal antibodies and other proteins, and the proprietary developed biobetter proteins and monoclonal antibodies.

Jim Mullen, Chairman of the Board designate, PERCIVIA LLC said: “I look forward to work with the PERCIVIA team to capitalize on the many opportunities in the fast growing market for biobetters, we aim to capture these by leveraging the advantages of the PER.C6 cell line platform”.

Feike Sijbesma, CEO/Chairman of the DSM Managing Board stated, “DSM is excited to enter this new phase in our collaboration with Crucell. After progress was made by PERCIVIA as an R&D centre with a focus on further developing the unique PER.C6 technology platform, now is the time to take our cooperation with Crucell to the next level.”

Ronald Brus, president & chief executive Officer at Crucell said: “Since the opening of the PERCIVIA Development Center, we have seen great progress in the development of our PER.C6 cell line and are excited as the expansion of this successful joint venture will further strengthen our commitment to modernize therapeutic protein manufacturing.”

Although founded as a 50/50 joint venture between DSM and Crucell, PERCIVIA LLC will engage with other partners when beneficial to the development of the product portfolio. Financial details of the joint venture will not be disclosed.

The PERCIVIA PER.C6 Development Center opened in 2006, designed to further develop the PER.C6 cell line and to provide turnkey solutions for the production of pharmaceutical proteins to licensees, utilizing the PER.C6 human cell line in the biotech industry. PERCIVIA LLC will employ approximately 40 employees.

Crucell's PER.C6 technology platform has been developed for the large-scale manufacture of biopharmaceutical products such as recombinant proteins including monoclonal antibodies. Compared to conventional production technologies, the strengths of PER.C6 technology lie in its excellent safety profile, human quality attributes, scalability and productivity under serum-free culture conditions.

Crucell N.V. is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on research development, production and marketing of vaccines, proteins and antibodies that prevent and/or treat infectious diseases. In 2009 alone, Crucell distributed more than 115 million vaccine doses in more than 100 countries around the world, with the vast majority of doses (97%) going to developing countries.

DSM Pharmaceutical Products is a global provider of high quality custom contract manufacturing and development services to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.